Identity Provider

An Identity Provider (IdP) is an entity capable of managing digital identities of users, applications, or entities, ensuring secure authentication (Authn) and authorization (AuthZ). OAuth 2.0 Authorization Server that is capable of Authenticating the End-User and providing Claims to a Relying Party about the Authentication event and the End-User.

An identity provider (IdP)

Authentication (Authn) is the process of verifying the identity of users, devices, applications, or other entities, providing a level of assurance that they are who they claim to be.

facilitating access to various applications or systems. It acts as the trusted source for verifying identities and sharing this verification with other services.

• Authentication (Authn): The IdP validates an entity's credentials (e.g., passwords, biometrics, or tokens) to confirm their identity.

• Authorization (Authz): While primarily focused on authentication, an IdP may also help define access permissions by issuing tokens with authorization data.

• Single Sign-On (SSO): IdPs enable users to log in once and gain access to multiple connected systems without repeated authentication.

• Identity Federation: An IdP supports federated identity, allowing different organizations or services to trust its authentication, enabling seamless cross-platform access.

• User Directory Management: The IdP maintains a centralized directory of identities, including attributes like roles and permissions.

An identity provider (abbreviated IdP or IDP) is a system entity that creates, maintains, and manages identity information for principals and also provides authentication services to relying applications within a federation or distributed network.[1] Identity providers offer user authentication as a service. Relying party applications, such as web applications, outsource the user authentication step to a trusted identity provider. Such a relying party application is said to be federated, that is, it consumes federated identity.[2]